I feel your pain on the fast-curing stuff. When I redid my bathroom sink, I grabbed whatever silicone was cheapest at the hardware store—big mistake. It set so fast I barely had time to smooth it out, and ended up looking like a kindergarten art project. Honestly though, it's held up fine, no leaks or anything. Next time, I'll probably spend a couple extra bucks on something slower-setting just to save myself the headache... lesson learned.
Been there myself with the quick-setting silicone—definitely a stressful experience. But hey, if it's holding up and no leaks, that's a win in my book. Plus, every DIY project adds character to your home... and your skillset. Keep at it, it gets easier!
"every DIY project adds character to your home... and your skillset."
Definitely true—each project teaches you something new. A couple things I've learned after wrestling with quick-setting silicone myself:
- Prep is key. Masking tape around edges helps keep silicone neat and reduces panic moments when it starts setting fast.
- Keep a spray bottle of soapy water handy. Spraying a bit on your finger or smoothing tool makes shaping silicone way easier and less messy.
- Consider neutral-cure silicone next time. It sets slower, giving you more working time, and it's less harsh on metals and stone surfaces.
My first sink install was a mess, silicone everywhere, and I was convinced I'd ruined the countertop. But after a few installs (bathroom sinks, kitchen faucets, etc.), it really does become second nature. And honestly, even the pros have their off days—just part of the DIY journey.
My first sink install was a disaster too—silicone fingerprints everywhere and a countertop that looked like abstract art. Good tip about neutral-cure silicone; hadn't thought of that before. Guess each messy project is just another DIY badge of honor...
"Guess each messy project is just another DIY badge of honor..."
Haha, exactly. My first sink install wasn't pretty either—ended up with water dripping underneath because I didn't seat the drain properly. Learned the hard way to always double-check seals before calling it done. Neutral-cure silicone is definitely the way to go; less mess and easier cleanup. But hey, every DIY disaster makes the next project smoother...or at least that's what I keep telling myself.
